Radiator Mystery...

[Djmoua]

So this is the 2nd time for me having this occur...


Both times...after driving...i shut off my car...and i hear my fan trying to cool the engine...checked it and noticed the Coolant Resevoir is empty...i was like wth?...THIS has never happend--in my head--...anyway that was like 2 weeks ago..
Just yesterday..it did the same thing again!..So im wondering..do I have a leak somewhere? Because if i DO...how come i dont smell any coolant? ADvice?
I was thinkin maybe i need a flush?? idk...cuz it's been awhile since i can remember, it was like when my pops did it.

[m-tec93accord]

better case senario: a leaking hose

check every hose to see if even a small amt is filtering out, you should see white'ish around certain parts of the hose

worse case senario: blown headgasket or bad water pump

the water pump is easy, just time consuming

head gasket is the worse, this can be check by doing a block test

[wrichards2005]

A flush is certainly not gonna fix your problem, common sense should tell you that.

You need to make sure your radiator and overflow are completely filled, and then monitor them both to see if you are losing water.

Then go from there, check for hoses, then at the water outlet, up near the throttle body, and under the timing cover.

What I do is just park on a cardboard box for a couple of days, unless ALL the water burns off, that would tell you where the leak is coming from.

[Losiracer2]

is your car running hot? what about your radiator itself? is it topped off with coolant all the way to the top?

[Djmoua]

A flush is certainly not gonna fix your problem, common sense should tell you that.

You need to make sure your radiator and overflow are completely filled, and then monitor them both to see if you are losing water.

Then go from there, check for hoses, then at the water outlet, up near the throttle body, and under the timing cover.

What I do is just park on a cardboard box for a couple of days, unless ALL the water burns off, that would tell you where the leak is coming from.

i already did all this, hence..the "mystery" part. ...thanks for trying anyway.

[Djmoua]

is your car running hot? what about your radiator itself? is it topped off with coolant all the way to the top?

yes to all those questions..

[wrichards2005]

Sounds to me like your fans aren't working right, causing the water to boil, hence all the water you lost.

The most likely thing it sounds like to me is a bad radiator though, if your cooling system isn't circulating water it will cause the water to boil, and overheat.

[CB7Man]

Boiling coolant isnt going to evaporate, thats what the overflow is for lol

Try getting a new Radiator cap, Thermostat,
If you have an Automatic, check the tranny fluid
The Tranny Cooler and Coolant radiator are both in the radiator

My coolant system works so good my car wont heat up rofl

[F20A CB7]

MY fans come on rite away when i shut my car off.

And comes on durin drivin.

But ill def look into a new cap.

[turbo90accord]

what is your temp gauge reading?

[wrichards2005]

Boiling coolant isnt going to evaporate, thats what the overflow is for lol

Try getting a new Radiator cap, Thermostat,
If you have an Automatic, check the tranny fluid
The Tranny Cooler and Coolant radiator are both in the radiator

My coolant system works so good my car wont heat up rofl

No, but it could boil out of the overflow. And if he is running mostly water, it could evaporate.

[HondaFan81]

Sounds to me like your fans aren't working right, causing the water to boil, hence all the water you lost.

The most likely thing it sounds like to me is a bad radiator though, if your cooling system isn't circulating water it will cause the water to boil, and overheat.

If the water was boiling, it should start filling the overflow resorvoir.

Since his overflow is full and it seems like his radiator as well, he is losing coolant somewhere.

- Tstat housing leak
- Radiator leaking
- Radiator hose leak at one of the joints, the lower hose joint to radiator is common (clamps can loosen up or hose dry rot)
- Water pump leaking out weep hole
- Heater hose leak
- Heater core leak, but you'd get passenger footwell leak & coolant smell in car

[Djmoua]

No, but it could boil out of the overflow. And if he is running mostly water, it could evaporate.

all coolant...no water.

[Djmoua]

Boiling coolant isnt going to evaporate, thats what the overflow is for lol

Try getting a new Radiator cap, Thermostat,
If you have an Automatic, check the tranny fluid
The Tranny Cooler and Coolant radiator are both in the radiator

My coolant system works so good my car wont heat up rofl

cap is already replaced and new and shiny.

[Djmoua]

Sounds to me like your fans aren't working right, causing the water to boil, hence all the water you lost.

The most likely thing it sounds like to me is a bad radiator though, if your cooling system isn't circulating water it will cause the water to boil, and overheat.

well funny thing is...one of my fan WASN'T workin...so i already have a new one on there and this happens..so im just clueless as to why this didn't happen when i had the rattling fan on before.

and to answer Turbo90accord's question....my temp gauge is a stock gauge and is reading between half way and a lil above half way ...higher than it averagely is for me.